Exhibiting and vending machine.



EXHIBITING AND VBNDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IAR. 29, 1902.

'Witnesses /Qm www.

UNITED STA-TES PATENT Patented May 19, 1903.

OFFICE.

EXHI'BITING AND VENDING MACHINE.A

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent' No. 728,534, dated May 19, 1903. Application filed March 29,1902?.` SarialNo.100,548. (Nomodel.)

To a/ZZ whom t may concern,.- y

Be it known that I, ARTHUR E.'BENNET1', a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State 'of New York, have'invented certain new and useful Improvements in Exhibiting` and Vending Machines, of which the following is a specification. 5

This invention relates to an improved exhibiting and vending machine; and the object of the invention is to provide asimple, cheap, and eiicient device for exhibiting and vending various goods, such as different makes of tobacco-packages.

In the preferred adaptation ofA the invention shown a cylindrical shell-'is rotatably mounted on a base andis providedv with a series of vertical recesses or pockets in each of which packages of dierent manufacturers may be placed and removed by the intending purchaser through a suitable opening, all of which will be fully and clearly hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, inlwhich- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line a a, Fig. 1,

through the machine, with lthe exception of the vertical standard, of which a side elevation is shown. Fig. 3 is a top plan view with the cover removed. Fig. 4 isa horizontal section on line bb, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged `fragmentary section. through one ofy thedoors and a portion of the device, showing a package inplace. Fig. 6 isa view similar to Fig. 5, showing the package and door partially Withdrawn. Fig. 7 is an enlarged rear view of one of the doors and carrier.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged front view of a portion of the revolving shell, showing one of the door-stopping mechanisms. Fig. 9 is an enlarged front view of a portion of the revolving shell, rshowing another of the door-stopping mechanisms.' Fig. 10 is an enlarged cross-section through one of the partitions, showing the method of fastening the metal back. Fig. 1l lis anvenlarged fragmentaryl view of the revolving caseshowing the method of supporting a small package.

In referring to the drawings for the details of'construction like numerals designate like parts.

The preferred adaptation of the machine 2 and is composed of a seriesvof segments preferably formed of sheetlmetal and having outwardly-bent marginalportions 4, which u are adapted to be tted in longitudinal slots in vertical partitions 5. These partitions eX- tend radially outward from the shell and are preferably arranged at equal intervals around the circumference thereof. The4 spacesA between the partitions constitute vertical compartments 6 for the packages. The partitions are provided with side grooves near their outer en ds, in which windows 7, of glass or other suitable material, are placed. These windows inclose the verticalcompartments 6. The shell or cylinder has akbottom plate 8, through a central opening in which the standard 2 passes, and this plate is preferably mounted upon an antifrictional ballfbearing device 9, substantially as shown in Fig. 2. -Cross-barslO extend across the top of the cylinder and have a com mon opening 1l, through in Fig. 2, while apparently appearingv to be throughbut one cross-bar, is through both..y

The sheet-metal segments -3 are preferablyv providedwith slots 12 to forma series of down wardly-extending tongues V13, which `are'bendiagonally outward and form spring meint bers for maintaining the p ackages in position against the glass and also serve as passages `for moist airwhen the machine is utilized to exhibit tobacco-packages.

Iii-the preferred adaptation shownan annular ring 14 horizontally encircles the partitions, near the lower end thereof, and serves as abottom support for the windows 7. lA circular casing'15 is mountedon the'base and incloses that portion of the compartments beneath the ring 14,said casingextending nearly to the lower surface of the ring. y Those parts of the compartments beneath the ring are not provided with windows and are open for the removal of packages, which are normally retained therein by the inclosing casing 15.

, Openings are provided on opposite sides of the casing for the removal of the packages,

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which are normally closed by doors, the particular machine shown being designed for the sale of both five and ten cent packages of tobacco and one door being arranged so that it can be opened only to permit the removal of the tive-cent packages and the opposite door being arranged so that it can be opened only to permit the removal of the ten-cent packages. f The preferred mechanism for this purpose is shown in Figs. 8 and 9, in which a package-carrier is attached to each door, consisting of a horizontal plate 1G, extending inwardly from the bottom of the door, a vertical part 17, extending upward from the inner end of the plate, and an angular package-pushing part 18, having a screw-threaded rod 19 passed th rough and adjustably secured to the vertical parts by nuts 20. The opening in the part 17 through which the rod 19 passes is'in the form of a vertically-elongated slot 2l, so that the rod 19 and packagepushing part 1S can be vertically adjusted. The object of the vertical adjustment is to provide for the proper operation of the part 1S with differently-sized packages, and the object of the horizontal adjustment is to arrange for the operation of the part 18 with packages of different thicknesses.

The outer or vertical portion of each push part 18 is provided with a laterally-extending lug or stop, the push part of one carrier being provided with a stop extending from one side and the push part of the opposite carrier having a stop extending on the opposite side. For the purpose of distinguishing between these lugs one has been numbered 22 and the other Each of the segments 3 of the shell is provided near its lower extremity with an opening 24 for the passage of the push parts and a side opening for the passage of the lugs, the segments forming the back walls of the compartments containing packages of one price, such as five-cent packages, having side openings 25 on one side of the openings 24, and the segments forming the back walls of the compartments containing dilerently-priced packages, such as ten-cent packages, having side openings 26, which are on the opposite side of the openings 2=t, so that the one carrier can be used to remove packages of one price only. The carrier for removing ten-cent packages is arranged so that its lug 23 passes through the slot 26 and cannot pass through the slot 25, as that slot is on the opposite side, and the carrier for removing the live-cent packages is arranged so that its lug 22 will pass through the slot 25 only. An operating-knob 27 projects from each door, and a coil-spring 28 connects each door to the central standard and serves to return the carrier and door after it has been withdrawn to remove a package.

Small-size packages 29 may be placed in the machine by employing a false bottom 30, substantially as shown in Fig. 2.

An alarm or bell is connected to each carrier, so that it will be operated or ring when the door and carrier are withdrawn. In the machine shown two bells 31 and 32 are elnployed, one being larger and having a different sound from the other, so that a person familiar with the bells can easily distinguish which door has been operated by the sound of the bell-ring. These bells are mounted or supported on a cross-piece 33, attached to the standard, and are each operatively connected to one of the package-carriers by a wire 34, which passes through the said standard,which is made hollow or tubular for this purpose.

A top cap 35 of suitable size and form incloses the top of the machine.

This machine is adapted for exhibiting various goods in packages, such as tobacco or candy, and dispenses with a clerk, as the customer himself can operate the machine.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The customer turns the machine until the vertical column ot packages of the goods he desires is opposite the proper carrier. Then he pulls on the knob, drawing out the door and carrier and exposing a package on the carrier. At the same time one of the bells rings to inform the storekeeper that a purchase has been made.

The advantage of this machine is that the goods are all conspicuously displayed and can be easily looked over by a prospective purchaser himself by simply rotating the machine, and the goods, if tobacco, can be kept moist by propell material Within the shell or, if candy, can be kept cool in summer by ice placed within the shell. This is quite an advantage, as tobacco -packages are usually kept on shelves and in time become too dry, and certain kinds of candy become soft and sticky in summer and cannot be sold. Another advantage is that the Wholesale dealer can easily keep the machine filled properly with the various kinds of packages, such as different brands of tobacco, without disturbing the proprietor of the store in which the machine is located.

1n the preferred adaptation shown the inwardly-extending horizontal plates 1G are slidably mounted in the slideways 36 to prevent lateral or side movement when the doors are operated. (See Fig. 7.)

To prevent the tipping of large packages when removing them from the machine, a supplementary horizontal pushing-plate 37 is arranged below the main pushing part and serves to push the lower portions of the packages out.

It will be noted by referring to Fig. 6 that the horizontal portion (which in said Fig. 6 will be designated by the numeral 1Sa to indicate it) of the angular pushing part 18 eX- tends across and closes the vertical compartment, thereby preventing the dropping of more than one package.

I claim as my invention- 1. In an exhibiting-machine having a base, a vertical standard extending from said base and a shell rotatably mounted on the stand- TOO IIC

ard and composed of a series of segments having outwardly-bent marginal portions,and a series of vertical partitions having longitudinal slots in which the marginal portions of the segments fit, the partitions heilig separated sufciently to leave compartments adapted to contain packages, substantially as set forth.

2. In an exhibiting device having a base, a vertical standard extending from said base and a shell rotatably mounted on the standard and composed of a series of segments having outwardly-bent marginal portions, and a series of vertical partitions having longitudinal slots in which the marginal portions ofthe segments fit, the partitions being separated sufficiently to leave compartments adapted to contain packages and said segments having downwardly and outwardly extending spring members or tongues, substantially as set forth. f y

3. An exhibiting-machine having a base vand a shell mounted on the base and composed of aseries of segments having bent marginal portions, and aseries of partitions having longitudinal slots in which the marginal portions of the segments lit, the partitions being separated sufficiently to leave compartments adapted to contain packages, substantially as set forth. l v

4. In an exhibiting-machine, a base, a shell mounted on the base and having a plurality of vertical compartments adapted to contain 5. In an exhibiting-machine, abase, a shell l mounted on the base and having a plurality of vertical compartmentsadapted to contain packages and provided with windows which terminate a short distance from the lower end thereof, a casing mounted on the base and inclosing the open lower ends of said'` compartments; said casing having two oppositely-y arranged openings, a spring-tensioned door normally closing each of said openings and a package-carrier attached to each of the doors, each of said package-carriers having a lug or stop, substantially as set forth.

6. In an exhibiting-machine, a base, a shell rotatably mounted on the base and havinga4 plurality of vertical compartments some of said compartments being adapted to contain Y packages of one price, and another of said compartments being adapted to contain packnear the bottom of the door, a vertical part extending upward from at or near the inner end of the plate, an angular pushing part and means for adjusting the angular pushing part to correspond with the size of the package,v

substantially as set forth.

8. In an exhibiting-machine, a base, a rotatable shell having a series of compartments containing packages and a carrier for removing said packages consisting of a door, a horizontal plate extending inwardly from at or near the bottom of the door, a verticalpart extending upward from at or near the inner end of the plate, an angular pushing part having a screw-threaded rod passed through y and adjustably secured t'o the vertical part and means for adjusting the angular pushing part to correspond with the size of the package, substantially as set forth.

ARTHUR E. BENNETT.

`Witnesses:

GEO. A. N EUBAUER, A. J. SANGSTER. 

